A Message From Fr. Lancelot
Dear Friends,
In his book “True Self, False Self,” Basil Pennington presents us with one of the greatest tasks of our lives: coming to a true knowledge of ourselves. While we often define ourselves by our achievements or the successes of our families, it is far more difficult to understand our true selves—who we are at the core, beyond the superficial layers of identity.
Throughout literature, we find characters wrestling with their identity,
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- Shakespeare’s Hamlet laments:
“What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties… and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?”
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- In Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, Estella admits:
“I am what you have made me.”
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- Elizabeth Gilbert, in her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, describes her personal crisis:
“I don’t know how to be here. I don’t know how to live in this world anymore.” This is a striking confession of her disorientation, as she embarks on a journey to reconnect with herself, realizing that she has lost touch with who she truly is.
This past weekend’s Gospel also challenges us to reflect on our knowledge of Jesus, which is intrinsically linked to our self-awareness. Jesus was often misunderstood—even by His closest followers. When Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus responded:
“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” (John 14:9).
Jesus’ Confrontation of Our False Self:
Jesus continually confronts us, urging us to move beyond the false self—the self that is preoccupied with personal gain, security, and social image. His teachings challenge our assumptions about life and force us to confront deeper truths:
Self-Centeredness:
Jesus challenges us to break free from a life centered on self interest. The false self-thrives on selfish ambition, but Jesus calls us to love others, sacrifice, and live for a higher purpose.
A Personal Reflection:
As I reflect on these lessons, I am confronted by the reality that, while there are many tasks to accomplish during our time on earth, one of the most essential is to come to know both God and ourselves. Personally, I would be deeply saddened to reach the end of my life only to realize that I had lived more for myself and my needs than in my relationship with God. To miss this opportunity for deeper connection and true self-awareness would be a great loss.
St. Augustine’s “Late have I loved you, O Lord, late have I loved you. You were within me, but I was outside.”
Fr. Lance